Metallic sanitary folding bed.



PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

E. J. BAKER.

METALLIC SANITARY FOLDING BED.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.24, 1904.

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METALLIC SANITARY FOLDING BED;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application filed September 24, 1904. Serial No. 225,820.

To a,ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN JOHN BAKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MetallicSanitary Folding Beds; and I do hereby declare the following'to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to folding beds; and the objects of the inventionare to improve upon the simplicity and efiiciency of construction ofsuch devices, at the same time rendering them at all times pleasing tothe eye in appearance when in either folded or open condition.

This invention more particularly relates to what are known as sanitarydouble beds, which are so constructed that there are two distinctspring-bottoms on which may be made up beds that are entirely separatefrom each other although secured to the same head and foot boards.

The invention, it is believed, is peculiarly applicable to staterooms onshipboard, in that it provides two distinct beds at substantially theheight from the deck as now used for the customary lower berth, andtherefore does away entirely with the inconvenient upper berth nowgenerally employed, while in the day-time the bed can be foldedtogether, as hereinafter described, and will occupy floorspace, whenfolded, less than the present arrangement of berths.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and to theaccomplishment thereof the same consists of a folding bed embodying thefeatures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements ofparts capable of manipulation as set forth and disclosed in thisspecification and the accompanying drawings, the views of which show thepreferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 showsa plan view of the bed with onespring-bottom folded into vertical position with its portion of the headand foot boards folded against it and the other spring-bottom open andready to have a bed made up upon it. Fig. 2 shows an end elevationalview of one end of the bed with both spring-bottoms in horizontalposition, and Fig. 3 shows a detail plan of the under side of the meanspreferably employed for keeping the head and foot boards from spreadingapart if an outward pressure should be exerted upon them and forsupporting the outer side of the spring-bottoms.

Referring to the drawings, where an iron or brass bedis shown, althoughthe same may be made of wood or any other suitable material, (Zrepresents bed-posts, which are joined together by suitable head andfoot rails b and mounted on convenient basesupports 0. provided withfeet (Z. Rigid connection between the base-supports is obtained by anyconvenient and suitable manner of bracing. Any desired arrangement ofparts or ornamentation may be used in the space between the bed-posts;but in practice with the simpler style of beds it has been foundconvenient to employ a central brace 6, running substantially verticallybetween the rails b and 0, in which position it may serve as anefficient support for the bedspring frame. To the bed-posts are securedthe head and foot boards f, which are preferably symmetrically formedand otherwise alike. The connection between the bed-posts and head andfoot boards is such that the latter may be swung on said posts as apivot in the operation of folding up the bed. bed-posts are constructedto form the outer rail of thehead and foot boards and are given aconical or other suitable bearing in the head and foot rails Z) andbase-supports c, as shown by dotted lines at g. Itis thus seen thatthere aretwo head and twofoot boards,one upon each bed-post, and eachswinging aboutits respective bed-post. Each of these four boards isprovided with a foot or other supporting means it.

Between each pair of head and foot boards is mounted a suitable framet', on which is stretched a bed-spring j, the whole forming a springbottom or support for the mattress 71;, as is-customary. Thesespring-bottoms are preferably mounted in the following manner: To eachbrace c is secured a cross-piece Z, and to one end of each end piece ofthe frames 2' is secured a depending lug m. The lugs m on one frame 7;are pivoted to corresponding ends of the cross-pieces Z, and in likemanner the lugs m on the other frame 2' are pivoted to the opposite endsof the cross-pieces Z.

Upon the inner side pieces of frames 2' are mounted small standards 42,through which are passed wire guards 0, which extend along the ends ofthe frames and act as retainingbands to keep the same on its spring whenthe same is in vertical position. The outer side of the frame is leftunobstructed to render To this end the removal and turning of themattresses an easy l cross-pieces on said braces, a pair ofmattressoperation. On the ends of these guards 0 are attached rigidfingers 19, adapted to clasp the forward side of the mattresses andassist in holding them in position, although these fingers arepreferably formed slidable on the wires and may therefore be moved toany desired position or any number of them may be used.

The mode of manipulating the parts of the bed to fold and unfold it isapparent. If in open condition, the frames 21, carrying the mattressesand bedclothes, which are securely held by means of guards 0, are firstmoved into a vertical position about their pivotal points m, whichmovement leaves the head and foot boards free to be moved about theirpivotal points 9 and folded in against the frames d. To open the bed,the operation is reversed.

In order that the outer side of the framesc' may be efficientlysupported when the bed is unfolded and to provide means for keeping thehead and foot boards braced apart the proper distance, the means shownin detail in Fig. 3 is preferably used. On a convenient and suitableportion of the bed, preferably the leg h of the head and foot boards, ismounted a lug or shoulder q, one portion of which is provided with a ribor collar 7*. When so situated on the ends of the outer side of theframe i, there is provided a fitting s, which has a hollow under portion6, provided with a groove a, which is of such a size as to fit snuglyupon the rib r when the frame 2' is brought down to its horizontalposition, thus locking the head and foot hoards against any outwardmovement and at the same time supporting the frame 2'.

Obviously some features of this invention may be used without others andthe same may be embodied in widely varying forms.

Therefore, without limiting the invention to the specific constructionshown and described nor enumerating equivalents, Iclaim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent,the following:

1. Asanitary folding bed comprising suitably-connected head and footsupports, suitable head and foot rails therefor and braces between therespective supports and rails,

frames pivoted on said cross-pieces to tilt inwardly to a positionbetween said rails, and a pairof inwardly-folding head and foot boardsfor each mattress-frame, substantially as described.

2. A sanitary folding bed comprising suitably-connected head and footsupports, short head and foot rails mounted thereover on verticalbraces, cross-pieces on said braces, a pair of mattress-frames havingdepending lugs on each end near their inner sides pivoted to the ends ofsaid cross-pieces whereby said frames may be tilted inwardly to aposition snugly between said rails, and a pair of inwardlyfolding headand foot boards for each mattress-frame, substantially as described.

3. In a folding bed, a suitable supportingframe, a mattress-framemounted thereon to fold to a substantially vertical position and aretaining-band extending across the inner side and along the two ends ofsaid frame, said band being provided at its ends with means forpreventing a mattress from slipping off said frame at the unprotectedside, substantially as described.

4. In a folding bed, a suitable supportingframe, a mattress-framemounted thereon to fold to a substantially vertical position and aretaining-band extending across the inner side and along the two ends ofsaid frame, said band being provided at its ends with rigid fingers forpreventing a mattress from slipping off said frame at the unprotectedside, substantially as described.

5. In a folding bed, a suitable supportingframe, a mattress-framemounted thereon to fold to a substantially vertical position and aretaining-band extending across the inner side and along the two ends ofsaid frame, said band being provided with adjustable rigid fingersadapted to clasp a mattress and assist in retaining it in position,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN JOHN BAKER.

Witnesses:

R0131. A. YOUNG, H. L. FAVROL.

